Fenestration construction



Oct. 3, 1967 A. GROSSMAN 3,344,575

FENESTRATION CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 17, 1965 [N l/EN rap. Hana/#2114 020551140 flrro/eA/svs.

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United States Patent 3,344,575 FENESTRATION CONSTRUCTION Abraham Grossman, Northridge, Califi, assignor of onehalf to Thomas P. Mahoney, Santa Monica, Calif. Filed Aug. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 480,319 11 Claims. (Cl. 52-656) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Horizontal head and sill frame members of the fenestration construction are arranged with vertical jamb frame members and a vertical divider member to form a divided frame opening. The jamb members are identical in cross section and each has identical opposite ends. Each end has a vertical wall interfitting with vertical walls of the horizontal frame members and a tab which engages an edge face of the juxtaposed horizontal frame member permitting the jamb members to be completely interchangeable. Identical anchoring plate members co-act to releasably wedge the ends of the divider member in the horizontal frame members. Integral wedge tabs project from vertical sash members and slidably engage adjacent jamb and divider members to secure a sash in the divided frame opening.

This invention relates to a fenestration construction and more particularly to novel means for interconnecting in assembled relation head, sill and jamb members and a divider member for forming more than one window or door opening. The invention also relates to a novel assembly of a fixed sash or panel with such members.

Prior proposed fenestration constructions have included head, sill and jamb frame members of extruded metal sections such as aluminum or aluminum alloy. Such extrusions were then modified by cutting and drilling so that the frame members could be assembled by fastening elements such as screws. If screw holes were not properly aligned or if other improper tolerances and measurements were made, diificulties were encountered in the assembly and fabrication of the completed fenestration construction. Moreover, the number of modifications made to an extrusion in order to provide proper fitting with another member increased costs and the chance for improper fitting. Therefore, it is most desirable that extruded frame members be utilized without any modification thereto if at all possible.

The present invention contemplates a fenestration construction which embodies the above mentioned principle. In the construction of the present invention, extruded head and sill members need not be modified for use in framing an opening which includes jamb members and a central divider member. In the present invention, the jamb members and divider members of extruded section include a minimum of modifications. The extruded sections are so designed that the jamb members and head and sill members may be interlocked at each corner and secured by a single retaining or fastening member. Means for interconnecting the divider member without modification of the head and sill members is also provided in the form of a novel anchor, clip or plate which cooperates with both the divider member and the sill or head member so as to. permit adjustable location of the divider member and positive securement of the divider member at a selected location. In the present invention, a fixed sash is assembled with said members in novel manner and in such a fashion as to provide a novel method of weather sealing the fixed sash.

The primary object of the present invention, therefore, isto disclose and provide a novel fenestration construction.

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- bers whereby twisting or other relative movement of one member with respect to another is positively restricted by interlocking engagement of portions of said extrusions.

Another object of the invention is to disclose and provide a means for interconnecting adjacent end portions of extruded frame members by use of a single securement element.

A further object of the invention is to disclose and provide a fenestration construction wherein a divider member may be adjustably longitudinally positioned with respect to head and sill members.

A still further object of the invention is to disclose and provide a novel means for interconnecting and securing and end of a divider frame mber to a sill or head member.

A still further object of the invention is to disclose and provide a novel structure for assembly of a fixed sash with jamb, head, sill and divider frame members whereby the fixed sash will be held in non-rattling, weather sealed relation to said members.

A still further object of the invention is to disclose and provide a fenestratoin construction including a'jamb member adapted to be reversible or to be used on either side of a window opening.

A more specific object of the invention is to disclose and provide an anchor clip or plate for interconnecting one frame member to another frame member in angular relation without modification of one of the frame members.

Many other advantages and objects of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the drawings in which an exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a fenestration construction embodying this invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken in the plane indicated byline IIII of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line III-1110f FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the planes indicated by line IVIV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line VV of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken in the planes indicated by lines VIVI of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an anchor clip used on a division member employedin the fenestration construction shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective exploded view of jamb and sill corner construction used in the fenestration structure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the jamb and sill corner portions shown in FIG. 8 in assembled relation.

v FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a division bar and sill member assembled with the anchor clip shown in FIG. 7.

A fenestration construction embodying this invention is generally indicated at 15 in FIG. 1 and generally may comprise a sill horizontal frame member16, a head horizontal frame member 17, and a pair of vertical jamb members 18 arranged to form a main frame opening 19. In this example of my invention a vertical division member 20 may be centrally located between jamb members 18 and divides the main frame opening 19 into adjacent openings 21 and 22. Opening 21 may be closed by a slidarrangements of fixed and sliding sashes. For example, a fixed sash may be located centrally between two sliding sashes. It will also be understood that while the exemplary embodiment discloses the fenestration or window construction, the invention may be utilized on sliding door constructions as well as other framing and fixed panel constructions.

Sill member 16 may comprise an inclined sill web 26 provided with a depending anchor flange 27, an upstanding interior or back wall 28, a track 29 for the sliding sash 24, and an upwardly facing generally channel section 31 supported above the sill web 26 by upstanding rib 30. Channel section 31 provides an upwardly facing groove or recess 36 extending for the length of sill member 16 and defined by an upstanding outer wall 32, a bottom wall 33 and an inner upstanding wall 34 having a top outwardly directed horizontal flange 35. Sill member 16 is a metallic extruded section and may be cut to selected length along transverse vertical cutting planes perpendicular to the axis of the sill member. Rib 30 may be provided with spaced weep holes (not shown) for drainage.

Head member 17 may be of somewhat similar extruded section and includes a head web 38, an upwardly directed anchor flange 39, a back depending wall 40 defining with an inner wall 41, a downwardly facing recess 42 which may receive the top horizontal rail of the sliding sash 24. An outer wall 43 defines with inner wall 41 an outer downwardly facing recess 44 for receiving the top rail of the fixed sash 25. Inner depending wall 41 is provided with an outwardly extending horizontal flange 45.

Each jamb member 18 includes a jamb web 47, an anchor flange 48, an inwardly extending interior wall 49 defining with an intermediate wall 50, a vertical recess 51 to receive a vertical rail or stile of sliding sash 24. Intermediate wall 50 includes an outwardly projecting vertical flange 52. Intermediate wall 50 defines with an exterior or outer wall 53 a vertically extending recess 54 which may receive a vertical rail or stile 55 of fixed sash 25. The head, sill and jamb members lie in a vertical planar zone when assembled and the corresponding respective exterior walls 32 and 43, the intermediate or inner walls 34, 41, 50 and outwardly projecting flanges 35, 45 and 52 are aligned and lie in common planes.

Means for interconnecting adjacent ends of the head, sill and jamb members to avoid twisting of the head and sill members while employing only one fastening screw element at each corner embodies one feature of the present invention. The interconnecting means at each corner of the window frame is virtually the same and for brevity and clarity the interconnecting means at only one corner will be described.

The interconnecting means for the jamb and sill members is best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Exterior wall 53 on jamb member 18 is inwardly offset from outer edge 57 of web 47 so that when the adjacent end portion of sill member 16 is moved into assembled relation therewith, the Wall portion 53' will be received inwardly of the wall portion 32'. Edge face 58 of sill wall portion 32 abuts the rabbeted face 59 provided by the offset jamb wall 53. Jamb wall portion 53 may be provided with a positioning tab 60 formed as by stamping from the metal of wall portion 53'. Positioning tab 60 provides a downwardly facing edge 61 seated on the top edge face 62 of the sill wall portion 32'. The bottom edges of jamb walls 53, 50, 49 and flange 52 terminate above the bottom edge of web 47 so that the plain cut end face of sill member 16 may be abutted against jamb web 47. As shown in FIG. 9, the bottom edges of said jamb walls 49, 50 and flange 52 may seat on the top edges of sill walls 28, 34, flange 35.

When the adjacent end portions of the sill and jamb members 16 and 18 are in assembled relation as shown in FIG. 9, they may be secured by a single fastening element 64 such as a metal screw which passes through a port 65 in web 47 and threadedly engages a part circular bore 66 formed at the juncture of sill wall 34 and bottom wall 33. When the fastening screw 64 is drawn tight, relative twisting of the adjacent end portions of the sill and jamb member is prevented by the interlocking of the jamb wall portion 53' with the sill wall portion 32 and the positioning abutment of the tab 60.

It should be noted that when head and sill members of different profile or section configuration are utilized with jamb members provided with positioning tabs 60 that the support tabs 60 may provide the necessary abutting support at outer walls of the sill and head members and again serve with the fastening screw 64 to avoid relative twisting of the two members. It should also be noted that jamb members 18 are reversible, that is, they may be used on either side of frame opening 19 since at the top end of a jamb member 18 the support tab 60 is spaced the same distance from the end of jamb wall 53 as illustrated in FIG. 9. Thus, the spacing of support tabs 60 on a jamb member will determine the spacing of the head and sill members.

Means for securing or anchoring opposite ends of the division member 20 to the sill and head members 16 and 17 is best shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 10. Divider member 20 may be of suitable extruded metal section and may include a web 70 having an outer wall 71 extending in opposite directions from web 70 so as to define a fixed sash rail receiving vertical recess 72 with a vertical sidewardly directed flange 73. Spaced inwardly from flange 73 may be provided an interlock portion 74 adapted to cooperate with an interlock portion 75 on the sliding sash 24. On the opposite side of web 70 from interlock portion 74 a vertically extending lip 75 defines with web 70 a vertical wedge shaped recess 76. At each end of divider member 20 a positoining tab 78 may be struck out of web 70. Inner end corners of divider member 20 may be notched as at 79 to receive sill wall 34 and flange 35, and at the top thereof head wall 41 and flange 45. The bottom portion of outer wall 71 and web 70 is received within the channel recess 36.

An anchor plate or clip generally indicated at 80 serves to fasten and interconnect the divider member 20 with the sill member 16 while permitting adjustment of the divider member 20 longitudinally of the sill member and head member to facilitate assembly of the fixed sash with the frame members and to provide suitable adjustment of the interlocks on the divider member and sliding sash. Anchor plate 80 may be generally rectangular and have a width adapted to be snugly fitted between the inner surface of outer wall 71 and the wedge groove provided by lip 75. Anchor plate 80 includes spaced leg portions 81 and 82 defined by an elongated main slot 83 open at one end and having an enlarged generally rectangular opening 84 defined in part by a transverse edge 85. Positioning tab 78 is received within enlarged rectangular opening 84 and abuts edge 85 to vertically or longitudinally position anchor plate 80 with respect to divider member 20. Leg portion 82 may be provided with a laterally extending slot 87 opening at the side edge of plate 80 to receive flange 35 on the sill member 16. Beneath slot 87 the lower section of leg portion 82 is provided with a bevel 88 to clear the metal providing bore 66 and more particularly to provide a piercing point or edge 89 for biting or partially penetrating the opposed surface of sill wall 34 beneath flange 35.

When anchor plate 80 is assembled with divider member 20, it may first be positioned on tab 78 by inserting the longitudinal edge of leg portion 82 within the wedge shaped groove 76 and then moving the plate 80 into face to face contact with web 70, the opposite longitudinal edge of leg portion 81 then fitting closely to the inner surface of outer wall 71 adjacent web 70. A fastening screw 91 may then be inserted into main slot 83 for threaded engagement with a port 92 provided in web 70 below tab 78. Fastening screw 91 has a tapered shank 93 which engages in wedging relation opposed edges of leg portions 81 and 82 in slot 83 so as to spread and urge apart the leg portions 81 and 82. Spreading of the leg portions 81 and 82 causes the point 89 to bite or embed itself into the sill wall 34 and also urges the leg portion 81 into tight friction-a1 engagement with the inner surface of outer wall 71. The lower portion 71 of the outer wall 71 is thus forced tightly against the outer wall 32 of the sill member.

The upper end of divider member 20 is similarly connected to the head member by an anchor plate 80 as shown in FIG. 2. Anchor plate 80 may be provided with a top inclined portion 95 extending away from web 70 to facilitate grasping and handling of the anchor plate when it is assembled with divider member 20.

It will thus be apparent that divider member 20 may be connected to head and sill members at any position between jamb members 18 without the necessity of drilling holes for screws in either of the head or sill members. Moreover, the divider member 20 may be selectably positioned with respect to the jamb members and (readily adjustable to such desired position before tightening the screw members 91. It is important to note that the interlocking of the top and bottom anchor plates with the divider member and the interlocking of the anchor plate with the sill and head flanges 35 and 45 fixedly positions and spaces the central portion of the head and sill members in a desired dimensional relationship.

Another important feature of the exemplary fenestration construction embodied by my invention comprises the novel method and arrangement of the head, sill and jamb members with the fixed sash and with respect to weather sealing said fixed sash. When the fenestration construction of this invention is assembled, the head, sill and jamb members may be interconnected at each corner as previously described by the unique arrangement of the offset jamb walls 53, positioning tabs 60 and securement screws 64. Before installing the division bar 20 a fixed sash 25 may be lifted upwardly so that its top rail 100 is moved into downwardly facing recess 44 in the head member so that its bottom rail 101 may clear outer wall 32 of channel section 31. The fixed sash may then be lowered until bottom rail 101 seats upon bottom wall 33 of the channel section. Fixed sash 25 may then be moved longitudinally of the sill and head members until its vertical jamb rail or stile 55 is received within recess 54 of iamb 18. Such movement of fixed sash 25 is limited by abutment of an end face 102 of an exterior bead 103 on each of top and bottom rails 100 and 101 with the opposed edge face of jamb wall 53. End face 102 may be aligned with the inner edges of the fixed panel jamb stile 55. The division member 20 may then be assembled with the head and sill members and moved longitudinally with its anchor plates 80 loosely attached thereto until the vertical recess 72 receives the vertical interlock stile 104 of the fixed sash 25. The reception of vertical stile 104 in recess 72 is again limited by abutment of the end face 106 of bead 103 on each of top and bottom rails 100 and 101. When the fixed sash has thus been positioned and the divider member 20 snugly located thereagainst and in plumb relation with respect to the head and sill members, the anchor plate fastening screw 64 may be tightened.

During the assemblyof fixed sash 25 with the vertical recesses 54 and 72, the fixed sash was wedged transversely inwardly by wedge tabs 108 (FIG. 4) provided on the vertical stiles of the fixed sash. Wedge tabs 108 slidingly engage internal surfaces of outer Wall 53 on the jamb and outer wall 71 on the divider member 20 during assembly as above described and such wedge engagement serves to press inner surfaces of the vertical stile members 55 and 104 inwardly against the edges of jamb flange 52 and wall 72 of the divider member 20. Such transverse wedging movement of the fixed sash also moves into closer relation the inner surfaces of the top and bottom rails 6 100 and 101 of the fixed sash toward the flanges 45 and 35. Top and bottom rails 100 and 101 may be provided with weather seal strips 111 of suitable material in wellknown manner.

The fenestration construction embodying the above described inventions thus provides a window or door framing arrangement which may be utilized in either knocked down or preassembled form. Interconnection of frame members at each corner is readily accomplished with only one fastening screw per corner. The divider member 20 is readily assembled and adjusted to proper relationship with the fixed sash by means of anchor plates and also serves as a rigid interconnecting member between the head and sill members. The rigid tieing together of the head and sill members by divider member 20 permits the fenestration construction of this invention to be preassembled, preglazed and shipped and handled as a unit. The wedge tabs 108 on the fixed panel and their cooperation with the jamb member and divider member prevents rattling of the fixed panel and eliminates the need for weather stripping vertical members of the fixed sash.

It will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in the fenestration construction described above and which come within the spirit of this invention and all such changes and modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

I claim:

1. In a fenestration construction comprising: vertically spaced head and sill frame members; jamb frame members interconnecting ends of said head and sill members; said head and sill members having outer longitudinal walls provided with end Wall portions having end faces abutting said jamb members; said jamb members having outer vertical walls having end wall portions positioned behind said head and sill outer wall portion; said jamb wall portions each having a positioning and support tab element for seating engagement wtih the opposed edge of the associated outer wall portion of the head or sill member; means securing said end portions of said jamb members to the respective head and sill members and comprising a single securing element at each corner formed by said head, sill and jamb members; a divider member extending between said head and sill members and located intermediate their ends; and means at each end of said divider member securing said divider member to the associated head and sill member, said securing means being carried by said divider member and having inter-locking and frictional engagement with said head and sill members, said securing means including an anchor plate having spaced spreadable leg portions for engaging a wall of said divider member and a wall of said associated head or sill member.

- 2. A construction as stated in claim 1 wherein one of said leg portions is provided with a transverse slot, and the associated head or sill member includes a wall having a flange receivable in said transverse slot.

3. Ina construction as stated in claim 1 including a fixed sash positioned between said divider member and one of said jamb members, said head, sill, jamb and divider member having aligned recess means for receiving horizontal and vertical sash members; and means on said vertical sash members for wedge engagement with said recess means on said jamb and divider members for urging said vertical sash members into contact with opposite portions of said recess means, said wed'ge engagement means including wedge tabs formed integrally and projecting transversely from said vertical sash members and slidably engaging surfaces of said recess means.

4. In a fenestration construction including head and sill horizontal frame members and vertical jamb frame members arranged to form a frame opening with said jamb members defining sides of said frame opening, each of said frame members including a web, the provision of: means at the end of each jamb member and at the end of each associated horizontal member for interconnecting said members in interlocking relation; said interconnecting means at each of said horizontal member ends being substantially identical and including a vertical wall portion having a vertical end face and a horizontal edge face, said end faces abutting the webs of the associated jamb members with said edge faces of said head horizontal member facing downwardly and said edge faces of said sill horizontal member facing upwardly; said interconnecting means at each of said jamb member ends being substantially identical and including an offset vertical wall portion on the webs of said jamb members and extending along and inwardly of said vertical wall portions of said horizontal member ends, a positioning tab on said vertical wall portions extending outwardly and abutting the adjacent horizontal edge faces of said horizontal member ends, said substantially identical interconnecting means of said jamb member ends providing said jamb members interchangeable side for side of said frame opening; and a fastening member extending through said webs of each of said jamb member ends and engaging means on the adjacent horizontal member ends to draw said jamb and horizontal members into tight interlocked untwisting relation.

5. A construction as stated in claim 4 wherein said positioning tabs are struck from the metal of said vertical wall portions on said jamb member ends.

6. In a fenestration construction including horizontal head, horizontal sill and vertical jamb frame members arranged to form a frame opening, the provision of: a vertical divider member extending between said horizontal frame members and spaced from said jamb members to form adjacent openings within said frame opening; substantially identical means at each end of said divider member for anchoring said divider member to said horizontal frame members, said anchoring means being carried by said divider member and each including a plate member having horizontally spaced leg portions defining an elongated vertical slot; each of said horizontal frame members having a longitudinally extending vertical wall provided with an outwardly extending horizontal flange; one of said leg portions of each of said plate members having a horizontal slot receiving said horizontal flanges of said horizontal frame members therein locating and positioning said plate members on said divider member ends and relative to said horizontal frame members, said relative positioning locating one of said leg portions of each plate member abutting a vertical surface of said divider member and the other of said leg portions of each plate member abutting a vertical surface of said horizontal frame members, said relative positioning also 10- cating other vertical surfaces at said divider member ends abutting other vertical surfaces of said horizontal frame members; and means for spreading apart said leg portions of each of said plate members for pressure engagement of said plate members between said divider member ends and said horizontal frame members and for pressure engagement between said other vertical surfaces of said divider member ends and said horizontal frame members.

7. A construction as stated in claim 6 wherein one of said leg portions of each of said plate members includes piercing section means adapted to be embedded in a wall of the associated horizontal frame members when said plate member leg portions are spread apart.

8. The combination of angularly related fenestration frame members consisting of a horizontal member and an intermedial vertical member, and an anchor member interconnecting said frame members comprising: said vertical frame member including a vertical surface abutting a corresponding horizontally inwardly facing vertical surface of said horizontal frame member, said horizontal frame member including a vertical surface opposed to said corresponding vertical surface; said anchor member including spaced leg portions defining an elongated slot; and means positioning said anchor member on said vertical frame member with said slot generally parallel to said frame member abutting surfaces and one of said leg portions abutting said horizontal frame member opposed surface, said means positioning including means engaged in said anchor member slot for spreading said leg portions apart forcing said one leg portion to wedge against said horizontal frame member opposed surface and said frame member abutting surfaces to in turn wedge together.

9. The combination as defined in claim 8 in which said anchor member slot is a main slot and said anchor member one leg portion includes an auxiliary slot generally normal to said main slot opening toward said horizontal frame member; and in which said horizontal frame member includes a flange engaged in said anchor member auxiliary slot.

10. The combination as defined in claim 8 in which said means positioning said anchor member on said vertical frame member includes a tab formed on said vertical frame member and engaged in said anchor member slot.

'11. The combination of horizontal and vertical fenestration frame members having interconnected ends comprising: each of said frame member ends including a traverse web and transversely spaced walls projecting inwardly from said web; said horizontal frame member having a plain end face formed by at least ends of said walls; said vertical frame member having the web thereof overlapping and abutting said horizontal frame member end face, certain of said walls of said vertical frame member terminating vertically offset from the vertical extension of said vertical frame member web, said certain of said vertical frame member walls being generally aligned with and vertically abutting walls of said horizontal frame member, at least one other of said vertical frame member walls vertically overlapping and transversely abutting one other of said horizontal frame member walls; a transversely offset tab formed on said one other of said vertical frame member walls edgewise vertically abutting said one other of said horizontal frame member walls; and means securing said frame member ends together.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,996,159 8/1961 Casebolt 287--189.36 3,111,726 11/1963 Grossman 52-207 3,265,879 8/1966 Ford et a1. 52-656 3,267,632 8/1966 Riegelman 5'2656 DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH DOWNEY, Examiner. 

1. IN A FENESTRATION CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING: VERTICALLY SPACED HEAD AND SILL FRAME MEMBERS; JAMB FRAME MEMBERS INTERCONNECTING ENDS OF SAID HEAD AND SILL MEMBERS; SAID HEAD AND SILL MEMBERS HAVING OUTER LONGITUDINAL WALLS PROVIDED WITH END WALL PORTIONS HAVING END FACES ABUTTING SAID JAMB MEMBERS; SAID JAMB MEMBERS HAVING OUTER VERTICAL WALLS HAVING END WALL PORTIONS POSITIONED BEHIND SAID HEAD AND SILL OUTER WALL PORTION; SAID WALL JAM PORTIONS EACH HAVING A POSITIONING AND SUPPORT TAB ELEMENT FOR SEATING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OPPOSED EDGE OF THE ASSOCIATED OUTER WALL PORTION OF THE HEAD OR SILL MEMBERS; MEAN SECURING SAID END PORTIONS OF SAID JAMB MEMBERS TO THE RESPECTIVE HEAD AND SILL MEMBERS AND COMPRISING A SINGLE SECURING ELEMENT AT EACH CORNER FORMED BY SAID HEAD, SILL AND JAMB MEMBERS; A DIVIDER MEMBER EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID HEAD AND SILL MEMBERS AND LOCATED INTERMEDIATE THEIR ENDS; AND MEANS AT EACH END OF SAID DIVIDER MEMBER SECURING SAID DIVIDER MEMBER TO THE ASSOCIATED HEAD AND SILL MEMBER, SAID SECURING MEANS BEING CARRIED 